Since rumours began of a light-weight Cooper S limited edition, we’ve been itching to get hold of one and having some fun. June 21st 2006, it finally happened…

Let me just start by saying from now on I’ll be calling the MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Tuning Kit the “Works GP”. Quite frankly after hours holding on for dear life around the Adria International Raceway at the wheel of one these little beasties, the full name is just too much for my poor little fingers to take right now. I know, I can feel the sympathy as I type and truly appreciate being in your thoughts. Given the stunning imagery below now might also be the time to state that no, I’m not available for modeling work just now!

The launch event for the Works GP took place at the Adria International Raceway in Italy. An appropriate choice of location given the fact that the car is completed at Bertone, and the track is extremely twisty, something that suits any MINI perfectly.

After the briefest of briefings, and a lap following one our expert drivers for the day, Claudia Huertgen (fresh from an impressive 5th Place at the Nürburgring 24 Hour race in a modified BMW120d) we had the track to ourselves for several hours, which gave plenty of time to test the Works GP at high speeds and more realistically for day to day driving through a quite frankly dizzying array of twists and turns.

The Works GP isn’t a hardcore track day car. By BMW’s own admission compromises have been made in an attempt to increase the the mass market appeal of the little pocket rocket. The 18″ wheels are the most glaring example of style over substance. The car could have been much more of a “MINI CSL”, and indeed those avenues of extreme weight reduction and further enhanced engine tuning were explored, but the Works GP is the end of that adventure and at the same time signals the last “big MINI Adventure” of the current generation, barely more than 5 years since we were first let lose in a MINI Cooper, again at an Italian launch event.

In those 5 years MINI has exceeded all expectations with it’s phenomenal global success and universal appeal, the people from Munich certainly seem to know what the market wants, and it would appear they’re right on the button again as the Works GP has already sold out in most markets.

The Works GP did appear an obvious compromise to many when the final specifications were revealed in detail, 218hp and a reduction in weight of 50kg failed to impress many previously excited MINI enthusiasts, who were pinning hopes on a combination of more horses and less bulk. In addition, the 50kg weight saving does not include the DSC or Air Con, which are a no cost option in most countries, but mandatory in some, including the UK. That being the case it could be argued that the real weight reduction of the GP most customers will have ordered is even less significant. Still, it’s not all just about facts and figures.

Speaking to various members of the development team, one aspect of the evolution of the vehicle to continue beyond the basics of power and weight was the aerodynamics and suspension of the car. Once the weight and power had been announced at MINI United in Misano they were pretty much set in stone, but development continued on the rear wing, under body aerodynamic modifications and suspension of the car.

The suspension is 10mm lower than the standard Cooper S, and the damper settings are around 50% firmer, based on the John Cooper Works sports suspension accessory option, then tweaked and tuned specifically to suit the 18″ wheel and run flat tyre combination.

The rear spoiler, mounted much lower and further back from the rear of the car works in a very different way to either the standard S spoiler or the optional accessory John Cooper Works Wing. The vertical positioning in line with the curve of the roof top means it creates downforce and a low pressure area out behind of the rear of the vehicle, without affecting the drag co-efficient negatively. The development time was shared between the wind tunnel and blind testing on roads and track to ensure the results could not only be seen on a computer screen, but felt in real driving situations by real people just driving the car for enjoyment on regular roads.

The styling of the Works GP has proven to be another contentious issue, but I think most people have seen enough already to have a good idea if they like it or not. As it happens, I do like it, and hold firm in the belief that pictures just don’t do the car and it’s unique body styling justice. The GP features a winning combination of serious attitude, cheekiness, and athleticism about it’s character. Even slightly off beat styling touches such as the bright red wing mirrors work well, setting off the dark paintwork and toned down front grille area. It stands out from the crowd without yelling too loud.

The interior changes to, such as the dark grey dials with red needles make it feel really classy inside the cabin. The only small gripe I have with the interior is the GP badge on the dash board, which feels a little out of place. The styling of the rear I was not so taken with, but I spent so little time looking behind me it really wasn’t any concern! The recaro sports seats however are fantastic, if a little sticky on a hot day driving around a racing track.

And boy, did it get hot and sticky! With four hours of track time available I drove the car as much as I possibly could in the given time. Only stopping to take on board more water or give the brakes a well earned rest! The course was a fantastic choice for the Works GP launch, the only frustration being diverted away from the main straight and into the pit lane to cool and calm down every lap. Even that couldn’t spoil the fun though, as after a very short time I was feeling right at home in the Works GP, and after 5 years of driving MINIs I really felt I was driving clearly the best car to come directly from MINI. Depending on the success of the next generation MINI, this could well up being the best factory produced MINI for a long, long time to come.

The Works GP isn’t the most powerful MINI I’ve driven, but the combination of modifications add up pretty much perfectly and made driving the GP a real pleasure, and never a chore. The car felt just as happy pootling around at low speed as it did when you really wanted to give it some welly, or throw it around the bends, something that is very important when only a small percentage of GP owners are expected to ever actually drive their cars on a race track. The sound deadening which had been removed from some areas had negligible affect on the noise level at slow speeds, yet at the same time really made it’s absence conspicuous when driving at high revs and full throttle. As ever, that winning combination of a screaming supercharger and rumbling exhaust worked their magic on me as I flung the car about the course.

The handling also felt a marked iimprovment over the standard Cooper S. The rear end of the car certainly felt more assured and predictable, while still being very easy to drift around for a bit of sideways amusement if the devil on your shoulder ever eggs you on to do so. The brakes were good, however the course with it’s punishing array of tight 2nd gear turns was clearly taking it’s toll. As the day progressed I could only manage 4 or 5 fast laps before feeling brake fade significant enough to either cool it a while or take a much needed refreshment break. The conditions involved were pretty extreme, and I’d only really consider a brake upgrade if purchasing the car with regular track days in mind.

As impressed as I was with the Works GP, it’s very hard to tell how good a particular MINI is without a fair comparison. So I found myself in the fortunate and rather privileged position of driving the one other John Cooper Works MINI Cooper S in attendance around the course back to back with the Works GP for a fair comparison. When I took out the “regular” Works Car (complete with accessory spoiler, suspension, brakes and so on) I was immediately convinced that the GP car really was “that good”. The JCW did have a few more options (such as air con), but back to back it actually felt mildly pedestrian compared to the Works GP. The combination of improved acceleration, handling, and aural delight of the GP combine impeccably. Somehow the Works GP is one of those special things in life that adds up to more than the sum of it’s parts. It just feels just right.

Once again I find myself at the end of a review finding it hard to express just how much I enjoyed driving the Works GP without sounding like a slightly unhinged MINI obsessive who’s just been let of the leash for an afternoon of pure motoring pleasure. Maybe that IS the case, but if so, the Works GP made me the happiest mad man in Italy that afternoon, and if you’ve ordered one, or still have the chance to, you could well be joining me in this cheshire cat like state, but on a more permanent basis!